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MG MGF Technical - Return to the darkside

Hello everyone, after nearly a year and a half after selling my F I am contemplating a return to the darkside.
I wasn't planning on buying another F but I have been offered what may be such a good bargain it may be too good to pass. It is a 1996 mpi BRG, with serious engine damage and vandal attack to the paintwork on one side. What is this worth? and any ideas on how much a replacement mpi engine would cost?
I am not sure whether to go ahead and buy it and if I do whether to just get it back on the road as a standard car, or go the whole hog and take the opportunity to build the F I always wanted a few years ago.
Glad to see some of the same names are still here.
Jason H
Jason H

Hi Jason

According to Parker not very much - in fact in such a bad state it would almost cost the present owner money to have it removed.

Having said that it would make an excellent project car - I would have thought you could find a good second hand MPi engine for around two grand - but I am no expert.

If you do go ahead - Welcome Back.

Ted
Ted Newman

Was at "Rover Breakers" last week, he was just packing a late model VVC engine for delivery! £850!!.

Have seen full motors on flea-bay for as little as £350, but its a bit of a gamble as to what you would get!!

As Ted says prices are rock bottom, even more so this time of year, even a tidy F of this vintage would only fetch £2.5-3K, so this one would be less than £1k with the work that wants doing!!..

At these prices you could buy two, make one good one, then sell of any remaining bits!!.... looking at the prices of parts for Fs on flea-bay, you could even come out with a profit doing this!!! :o)
Mark.L

In good condition with say 70K on the clock and nearly 10 years old, as a trade in your are probably looking at £1000. But I tend to agree with Ted, if its in bad condition as you say, and not even traded in against anything then nothing.

If you were to fix it would cost more than you would get in return.

Tell them, "look I'll not charge you to take it away".
Brian

Jason, sounds like a good 'restoration' project! :o) All depends what you want out of the other end. If a quick tidy up, then it won't cost you that much to rebuild the engine yourself and get the side of the car resprayed - but why stop there? Indeed, the sky is the limit :o)
Rob Bell

Well I went to see the car, turns out it is a VVC That is good, but it means the engine will cost more to fix or for a replacement! So it will work out a little expensive for me to take on as a hobby.

I think I'll pass on it, but nice to talk to all again.
Jason H
Jason H

Jason, have you got contact details? How much is the car being offered for?
Rob Bell

Why don't we get these chanches on the continent ?!?
boehoehoe :o(
Erik

>Why don't we get these chanches on the continent ?!?
>boehoehoe :o(

Echo:
boehhoehhoeehoee !!!
:( :(
Dieter

The car is now on ebay - listed as 'MGF Project'
item number 4578280773 - judging by the current price, I should have bought it and listed it on ebay myself!
Jason H
Jason H

Jason, you could have bought it for less that 700 quid? Jeepers, if I were offered that car for that price, I'd definitely have bought it...

Would you like any more salt to run into your wound? ;o)
Rob Bell

I was offered it for £500 - I phoned around and an engine was going to cost £1000, and a decent respray was another £1000 - so a cheap MGF if I wanted one, but £2500 is more pocket money than I have.
Jason H
Jason H

Just as a side note, what on earth is going on with the piping on the half leather seats? Looks like paper when it gets wet and dries wavy.
Emma Jackman

Why bother with a respray? Go with the urban warrior look. Splash on some touch up paint.

The engine work cost is going to be very much dependent upon condition - but it may only need a new gasket. DIY the work and you can everything back together for a few beer tokens.

The car's been stationary for a while, so some work will be needed on the brakes, but apart from that, you could be road worthy for under a grand...

Emma, you're right about the seat piping on the leather seats. I didn't have that problem at all with the cloth ones in my car (since fitted TF alcantara seats). I guess it "adds character" ;o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 16/09/2005 and 27/09/2005

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